Hatchling Assist Feed Issues

I have two hatchling's that aren't taking food on their own. This was the third assist feed, and they still are taking no interest in attacking prey. The one will bite it but not coil it. It's like they are just two shy to take it. I've offered both live and f.t. Right now I'm assist feeding with mouse fuzzies, and they seem to be going down good for them. I just don't want to be doing this for their entire lives...What do you guys typically do to get them to start eating on their own? I was going to try a live fuzzy being that I haven't tried feeding them live since their first meal. The first week I tried with a live hopper, and the 2nd week also. The third I tried a f.t fuzzy, and nothing. From that week on I assist feed a fuzzy mouse which has gone on for 3 weeks. I'm starting to get concerned because the other siblings are growing like weeds, and these guys still look like they came right out of the egg. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Have you tried live hoppers?

I have a couple that would try nom nom in the live rat pinks, that I would put in there, it was the funniest thing, they finally figured things out. I would try the live hoppers though, if you haven't already

Their first meal that I offered was a live hopper, and they shied away from it. I also tried the second week with a live hopper, but nothing. It's been a while since they had a live one so I might try again and see what happens. Are there snakes that never learn to hunt?

I've never heard of a snake that has never learned to hunt, so this is a plus. I knoe some can be stubborn, and you begin to think will this ever end! Just keep monitoring their weights, offer a live hopper, if they refuse wait 5 days before offering again. If their weight drops drastically then assist.

I have been told by a huge breeder to take the snake that is having a hard time feeding and put them in a brown paper lunch bag with a hopper mouse. Between the activity of the hopper and the security of the bag it's hard for the hatchling to say no.

Good luck, this has always for me since.

Last year I had a girl who would not catch on to feeding. I assist fed her 16 times before she got the hang of it. She is now one of my best eaters. Good luck and don't give up:)

WOW!! 16 times!! How often should I assist feed j.w? I know its very stressful for them, but I want them to start putting on some weight.

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Originally Posted by Animals As Leaders

WOW!! 16 times!! How often should I assist feed j.w? I know its very stressful for them, but I want them to start putting on some weight.

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Don't feed those two for a couple weeks so they can get hungry, I'd do the paper bag trick but I'd do it with a small hopper leave them be for a while and that should do the trick.:gj:

If it doesn't don't get discouraged I've assist fed hatchlings about 5 to 6 times before they hit one on their own. Also make sure the assist fed prey is small this in turn makes it fast and less stressful.

If you do not already offer a dark tub with aspen bedding sometimes it does the trick.

On average hatchlings that I have assisted started eating on their own after 3 to 4 meals and of course you have the difficult ones :rolleyes:, I have a female that I had to assist feed for 6 months. It was not something I look forward too but I did time after time for 6 long months.

At some point you have to decide whether or not you want to keep doing this in my case I decided to give this female a chance but I can tell you I was getting close to giving up and than she came through for me.

I still own her always will (she became a special girl) and today you could not tell there was any issue to start with she is the same size than her other sibling that I still own as well.

Sometimes it can be tough.

The paper bag trick is definitely a way of feeding I haven't tried but seems like it works quite well.

I'd imagine they'd eventually get it on their own soon enough. I've assist fed my hatchling about 4-5 times now and she still doesn't get the idea. Although she has been taking the assist feedings with more interest and a quicker bite down with each feeding, so hopefully she'll get the idea.

I assist her every 5 days with a F/T hopper and she seems to do just fine without over stressing. It's also a quick process so it doesn't seem like it puts too much stress on her.

Wish you luck with your hatchlings!